President Donald Trump would be no boon for Hong Kongers. While some of the 0.1% may benefit, Trump’s stances on global tax and trade and strained relationships with people in Hong Kong and the region could mean a bump from Trump.

Donald J. Trump – Manhattanite, businessman, property developer, reality TV star, Twitter expert, the man who promises to make America great again – is now the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination. Victories in early primary states have erased doubts about his staying power in the race or that his incendiary language with regard to illegal immigrants, China, the other contenders for the Republican nomination (Jeb Bush’s campaign was doomed the moment Trump opined that Bush is “low energy”), or certain journalists, would hurt his campaign. The Republican voter that propelled Trump to victory in South Carolina either lacks a college degree, is angry at the federal government, or favours a hard line on illegal immigration.

Despite the attention given to China trade issues on his website, the website and Trump on the stump are silent on human rights in China and Hong Kong autonomy. For Trump, when it comes to Hong Kong, it’s all about business.

Trump and Hong Kong: Trump was rescued by Henry Cheng of the New World … The Hong Kong investors sold the bulk of the project in 2005, for US$1.8 billion, in the largest residential real estate transaction in New York City history. Trump … sued the Hong Kong investor… did not win the lawsuit…the fallout from the litigation also resulted in at least one indictment for tax evasion.

As far as taxes go, his policies are a mixed bag for those connected to the US, Americans and other caught in the broad IRS net, that would be impacted by his tax ideas.

U.S. taxpayers in Hong Kong would certainly benefit from Trump’s tax proposals for individuals. This includes a reduction of the current seven tax brackets, which range from 10 to 39.6 percent, to three brackets of 10, 20, and 25 percent, an increase in the standard deduction to US$25,000 for single filers and US$50,000 for joint filers in 2015 (indexed for inflation thereafter), and a repeal of the alternative minimum tax, and a repeal of federal estate and gift taxes. According to the Tax Policy Center’s analysis of Trump’s tax plan, high-income taxpayers would receive the biggest cuts, both in dollar terms and as a percentage of income, with the highest-income 0.1 percent of taxpayers (those with incomes over $3.7 million in 2015 dollars) seeing an average tax cut of more than US$1.3 million in 2017. The Tax Policy Center cautions that increased government borrowing to cover the deficits that result from the lost tax revenue would push up interest rates and crowd out private investment and/or require unprecedented cuts in federal spending.

Unfortunately for Hong Kong, Trump vehemently objects to the TPP. Although not a signatory to the TPP, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, as an economy where services account for more than 90 per cent of the GDP, Hong Kong is well-positioned to benefit from any FTAs in the region. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong recently suggested Hong Kong join the TPP in its submission to the Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2016.

Ross Feingold has extensive experience with international finance, regulatory, and policy issues.

Mr. Feingold worked in Hong Kong for The Royal Bank of Scotland supporting its Asia Sale Program, and was the project manager for the bank’s opening of a new office in Taiwan.He has worked with Deutsche Bank (Hong Kong), J.P. Morgan (Singapore) and international law firm Russin & Vecchi (Taipei), and Jardine Fleming (Taipei).

Mr. Feingold presently serves on the global board and as Asia director of The Association of Americans Resident Overseas, a non-partisan advocacy organization that represents the interests of U.S. citizens living and working abroad. He advises on strategic communications and outreach efforts, and interacts extensively with Asian governments and numerous international organizations. He is admitted to practice law in New York and Washington DC

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What a great job done parroting the “establishment GOP” line against Trump, whose only actual sin within the party is that he says openly what the GOP candidates have been “dog whistling” for years.

Yes, Trump will be terrible for Hong Kong, but he’ll be terrible for the entire damn planet. And given that the GOP is eagerly lapping up every drop of his spittle, perhaps now we can drag out the tired Mitt Romney line from 2012 for a new use: “YOU BUILT THIS!”

Every single time a Republican candidate has used code words to denigrate the black community, referred to Black Lives Matters as a bunch of “thugs” or talked trash about new immigrants not fitting in, that’s what’s led to Trump. When Hong Kong natives visit the United States or send their kids for a Stanford or Harvard education, keep in mind that the moment they set foot off the campus, they’re in a world in which the GOP has encouraged only the worst bigotry in humanity instead of the best.

Oh, and this Feingold guy doesn’t understand how TPP works. TPP is entirely a US-run effort to counterbalance the economic and military weight that China has been wielding in the region. Apparently he forgot that Hong Kong is part of the PRC now because these GOP guys are not good at facts. So, if you’re in Hong Kong, why is it so “unfortunate” that the TPP might fall through? Which it probably will.